Hamilton @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 9, 2018 ) Hamilton 30, Montreal 15

Johnny Manziel is set to make his first CFL start when the Montreal Alouettes host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. Manziel didn't see any action in the 44-23 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos, but has been taking snaps with the first-team offence, and hopes to lead the Alouettes to their first win in more than a month while exacting a measure of revenge on the team that shipped him off July 22.

"We didn't trade for Johnny to have him sit on the bench," Montreal coach Mike Sherman told reporters. "He's come here to get reps and to become the best player he can become and we've started that process." Hamilton is heading in the wrong direction following a 21-15 setback to the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 7. The Tiger-Cats have dropped three consecutive games to fall four points behind the Redblacks in the race for the East Division title, and hope their struggling offence, which has failed to score more than 20 points during their skid, rediscovers their mojo as they aim to beat Montreal for the third consecutive time. "It's everybody as Jeremiah (Masoli) needs to read his keys and the receivers need to do what they're supposed to do," Hamilton coach June Jones told reporters. "We're getting the point across and everybody understands it's a long year."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS, ESPN2

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (2-4): Masoli threw for 352 yards and a touchdown against Ottawa to finish with at least 300 passing yards for the 10th time in his last 11 games while Jalen Saunders hauled in eight passes for 154 yards and a score. Wide receiver Luke Tasker was back at practice after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury while slotback Brandon Banks, who leads the team in receptions (40), is questionable with a knee problem. Hamilton added offensive lineman Isame Faciane and wide receiver Cameron Echols-Luper to the practice squad while defensive end Jamal Marcus was released.

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (1-5): Vernon Adams Jr. finished 15-of-28 for 217 yards to go along with 72 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Eskimos as Montreal dropped its eighth straight home game. Defensive back Greg Ducre is set to make his first CFL start in place of Mitchell White, who suffered a season-ending spinal cord injury in the late stages of the loss to Edmonton. Montreal acquired defensive back T.J. Heath from the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for offensive lineman Ryan Bomben and the two-time all-star is likely to suit up Friday while wide receiver Adarius Bowman could make his debut for the Alouettes following a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on July 23.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Hamilton has won the last three meetings in Montreal by an average of 21 points.

2. Masoli has thrown an interception in all six games this season.

3. The Alouettes have allowed a league-high 23 sacks.

PREDICTION: Alouettes 26, Tiger-Cats 22